Week 4: Fidelity and Intimacy in Marriage

"An intimate sexual relationship is an important aspect of marriage. It helps keeps marriage vital. When couples experience difficulty relating to each other sexually, small problems seem larger, and the marriage itself may suffer." So says my professor, and, though this topic is a little strange for me to be blogging about, what he says makes sense with the things I have been taught about marriage creating "one flesh." The Bible celebrates marital intimacy as a way of becoming closer together as a couple and, ultimately, closer to God.

Some things I liked:

* Premarital chastity builds trust. Society suggests that physical intimacy before marriage is a good thing because it seems natural and provides you the opportunity to really get to know someone before making a serious commitment. But a relationship built on a "testing out the waters" attitude is inherently shaky, non-committal, and disrespectful of worth. The security of a marriage covenant helps you trust your partner, wholly and completely, and to feel safe in the knowledge that you love each other and have committed both your bodies and your spirits to the relationship.

*Repentance and forgiveness are always possible. :)

*Research shows that cohabitation before marriage increases risk of divorce (for reasons of non-commitment in the first place) and increases the risk of physical and sexual abuse. Also, cohabiting individuals report lower levels of happiness and satisfaction in their relationships than married couples.

*A healthy sexual relationship within a marriage makes other problems seem smaller. The ability to be close and intimate helps build the love and trust needed to work through other difficulties. At the same time, one must always be respectful of a spouse's sexual wishes, level of health, and fatigue.

*"The ideal is to use sexual intimacy as a means of enjoying the marriage relationship, rather than using the marriage relationship as a means of enjoying sexual intimacy."

*"Remember that sexuality is just one form of being intimate and should not be allowed to overshadow the emotional, spiritual, social, intellectual, and affectional aspects of intimacy within a marriage. Sexual intimacy is part of the divine plan to help husband and wife become one in purpose and have the kind of relationship that will last throughout the eternities and bring true joy and happiness."

I love you all! Have a great week :)